- More than four out of five of the survey cities now use renewable energy, or are considering beginning by next year.
- All but four of the survey cities (97 percent) are using more energy-efficient lighting technologies in public buildings, streetlights, parks, traffic signals, and other applications, or expect to by next year.
- Seventy-two percent of the responding mayors stated that their city fleets now run on alternative fuels and/or use hybrid-electric technology.
- Nearly nine in ten of the cities require, or anticipate requiring in the next year, that new city government buildings be more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.
- More than three out of four of the cities are undertaking efforts to encourage the private sector to construct buildings that are energy efficient and use sustainable building techniques.
"This survey clearly shows that mayors are acting decisively to curb global warming, helping fill the void left by federal inaction," said Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer. "Mayors are leading the way by implementing successful strategies to change human behavior and help protect the planet." Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran added: "This survey demonstrates the high level of innovation and creativity that U.S. mayors are employing to create more sustainable communities. This is not a new phenomenon, since mayors are often at the forefront of positive change."
Additional key findings:
- More than nine out of ten cities consider efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to be part of their broader efforts to address public health concerns, such as improving air quality or encouraging active living.
- In nearly three in four of the cities, mayors have reached out to other mayors, elected county officials, or other leaders in the region to encourage them to sign on to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and/or take action on climate protection.
- If the Energy and Environmental Block Grant now pending in Congress is enacted, half of the cities will use the funds provided through it to improve community energy efficiency. Instituting and/or encouraging green building practices leads the list of specific activities for which resources are currently not available that cities would undertake if block grant funds became available.
As of June 21, 540 mayors have signed The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, committing to reduce carbon emissions in cities below 1990 levels, in line with the Kyoto protocol and due to an absence of federal leadership. For the past few months, mayors have been working closely with Congressional leaders to enact new legislation to support local government efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Called the Energy and Environment Block Grant program, similar to the popular HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, this initiative would supply formula-based grants to cities, counties, and states to reduce energy dependence and promote greater energy efficiency. The United States Senate is currently debating its energy legislation, which includes a block grant program; a key House energy panel will be considering this proposal next week during action on its energy package.
